After first staging the comic opera in the late 1980s, the Maitland Gilbert & Sullivan and Musical Society has decided to resurrect the musical for its final production this year.

“Choosing this particular production was quite easy because everybody loves the Pirates of Penzance and the audience loves to sing along,” director Jeanette Massey said.

“The thing about the Pirates of Penzance is that most people know the music, and the story is actually so silly that people love it ... it’s just such rollicking good fun and it appeals to such a wide audience.”

The Pirates of Penzance traces the romantic battle between Mabel, a ward in a chancery, and Frederic, a pirate who is being held captive to uphold his sense of duty.

It is the second Maitland G&S production for 2008, with the society staging the musical hit Jesus Christ Superstar earlier in the year.

“Next year we’ll be doing Joseph and his Technicolour Dreamcoat for our first show, so of course we’ll be looking forward to that,” Ms Massey said.

The cast of 40 includes Roger Onslow as the Pirate King, newcomer Toni Hughes as Mabel, and long-time society member Michael Cooper as her love interest Frederic.

The Pirates of Penzance opens on Saturday at Tempus Two Winery at 8pm and continues on October 11 and 12 at Maitland City Bowls and Recreation Club. The show will play at East Cessnock Bowling Club on October 18 and 19.

Phone 4915 2345 for details.